A seat at the table for Sandy Hook’s new congresswoman

House freshman Elizabeth Esty, a Democrat whose district includes Sandy Hook (third from the right in the foreground), meets with Vice President Biden and Democratic congressional leaders on the issue of gun violence at the White House Jan. 14, 2013. Seated to Esty's left is U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Photo courtesy of the White House.

Elizabeth Esty hadn’t even taken the oath of office when the nation and the world were introduced to Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Now the House freshman is front and center in White House talks over the epidemic of gun violence.

Esty, a Democrat who represents Connecticut’s 5th District, including Sandy Hook and Newtown, is part of a task force of lawmakers from her party that met with Vice President Biden today on the highly-charged issue of gun control at the White House.

In between Biden and Esty was Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in this White House photo.

For more on Esty’s role in today’s talks, check back later for a full report from Hearst’s Chuck Lewis.